Motor-vehicle.



H. MAXIM. MOTOR VEHICLE.

Application filed Oct. 16, 1900. Renewed June 3, 1902.)

Patented Dec. 30, I902.

2 Shegts-Sheei I.

No. 7l6,9l7. Patented Dec. 30, I902.

H, P. MAXIM.

MOTOR VEHlCLE.

(Application filed Oct. 16, 1900. Renewed June 8, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Shasta-Shut 2.

UNlTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM PERCY MAXIM, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO MORTON TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE, A CORPORA- TION OF NElVYORK.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,917, dated December30 1902.

Application filed October 16,1900. Renewed June 3, 1902. Serial No.110,061. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM PERCY MAXIM, acitizen of the United States,residing in Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates to improvements in the construction of the bodiesof motor-driven vehicles, particularly the fore part or dash of thevehicle-body, and of the running-gear frame which supports the body andwhich also supports the motor for propelling the vehicle.

The objects of the invention are to conceal the motor from view and atthe same time arrange the parts thereof so that they will be readilyaccessible for inspection and repairs, 7

also to mount the motor upon the frame so that little or no vibrationwill be transmitted to the body portion and so that the alinement of themotor in relation to the other. parts of thermechanism will always bekept true.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of avehicle-body, its run nin ggear, and motor, the floor of thevehicle-body being broken away in part and the casing or fore part beingshown with dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side view of the casing which formsthe dash of the vehicle, a removable cover being shown in dotted lines.Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a side elevation of one ofthe removablecovers of the casing. Fig. t isa plan view of the running-gear frame.Fig. 5 is an elevation of the front axle and its connections with therunning-gear frame. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of another formof the casing or dash. Fig. 7 is a front view of the casing,representing the same with the radiating-coil removed. Fig. 8 is a planview of the front portion of the running-gear'frame, showing the motorattached thereto. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the front axle representedin Fig. 8, showing'the connections of the running-gear frame thereto.

The body a of'the vehicle comprises a seat portion 7) and a casing orfore part c, that forms the dash of the vehicle. The body is suitablymounted in any well-known manner upon the running-gear frame (1, whichalso preferably supports the motor 6, that extends through the floorf ofthe vehicle into the casing. Suitable mechanism 9 for actuating thedriving-wheels of the vehicle is operatively connected with the motor,which is usually provided with a radiating-coil h, that is supported bythe fioor of the vehicle at the extreme front thereof and forms theouter wall of the casing. The coil may be perpendicular, or it may beinclined, as indicated in Fig. 6, to form a shield or cut-wind.Suflicient space is left between the turns of the radiating-coil toallow free circulation of air about the motor. The sides '1; of thecasing preferably extend slightly beyond the ends of the coil, so thatthe coil is invisible from the sides of the vehicle, and may be providedwith lattice-openingsj to increase the circulation of air about themotor. The casing completely incloses that portion of the motorprojecting above the floor of the vehicle and is detaehably secured tothe vehicle-body by means of suitable clamps or screws It, so that thesame can be'readily removed bodily from the vehicle. Preferably thecasing is also provided with openings in its top having removable coversZ in order that access may be had to the upper portion of the motor orother mechanism without removing the entire casing.

It will be understood by reference to Fig. 6 that the removable casingshown in that figure consists of sides, top, and open front and isseparated by lifting upward of sliding forward from the rear portion,which remains undisturbed on the floor or frame of the vehicle.

' The main portion of the running-gear frame that supports the engineand vehicle-body is substantially triangular in form and comprises sidemembers m, that are secured to the rear axle n and converge slightlytoward the front axle o, where they are secured to a yoke 19. Said yokeis preferably secured by a suitable pivotal connection (1 to the top orbottom of a spring 4, arranged centrally of the front axle, so as tobring the pivot in a vertical plane passing through the center of moredelicate parts thereof.

the axle. Both the axles and the side members may be trussed for greaterstrength, and the side members are preferably connected by suitabletransverse bars 3. As a convenient means of construction the spring maybe secured to the struts t of the front axle.

The use of this casing or dash not only presents a neat appearance, butit permits the motor to be located in the front part of the vehicle andmostly above the floor thereof. The casing not only performs the usualfunctions of the dash, but protects the occupants from the oil, dirt,and heat of the motor, and at the same time provides a housing for theSince the casing is detachable, access may readily be had to the motorwithout requiring the separation of any tight connections or requiringthe driver to crawl under the vehicle or to lift same. The carburetors,igniters, and similar mechanism incidental to the use of anexplosive-motor may also be placed in the casing,

together with tanks for water and oil, and access to the latter may behad through the openings in the top of the casing that are provided withremovable covers. The radiating-coil is placed in front of the vehicle,where the fresh air will strike directly'upon it, thus prod ucing thebest possible efiect. Ample space is left between the turns of theradiatingcoil to permit the air to enter, which circulates about themotor and passes out under the vehicle. Since the forward portion of theframe is pivoted to springs upon the axle instead of being supporteddirectly upon the axle, the wheels can adapt themselves to theinequalities of the roadway; also, sufficient flexibility is imparted tothe frame to prevent shock and to permit the motor to be mounted inclose proximity to the body of the vehicle Without imparting itsvibrations thereto. The stability of the vehicle is insured by arrangingthe pivotal connection between the spring upon the front axle and theintermediatemembers of the running-gear frame below the plane passingthe centers of the wheels.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a motor-vehicle, a vehicle-body, a motorfor propelling same, and a bodily-removable dash or casing inclosing aportion of the motor, substantially as described.

2. In a motorvehicle, a running gear frame, a vehicle-body, a motorsupported upon said frame and projecting above the lower line of thebody, and a removable casing forming the dash of the vehicle-body andinclosing the projecting portion of the motor, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a motor-vehicle, a vehicle-body, a mo tor for propelling thevehicle, and a bodilyremovable dash or casing inclosing a portion of themotor and provided with openings, to permit access to the interior ofthe casing, substantially as described.

4. In a motor vehicle, a running gear frame, a vehicle-body, a motorsupported upon said frame and projecting above the lower line of thebody, and a removable casin g forming the dash of the vehicle-body, andinclosing the projecting portionof the motor and provided with openings,to permit access to the interior of said casing, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a motor-vehicle, a'vehicle-body, a motor for propelling thevehicle, a bodily-removable dash or casing inclosing a portion of themotor and provided with an opening, and a radiating-coil connected withthe motor and arranged in said opening, substantially as described.

6. In a motor-vehicle, a vehicle-body provided with a casing forming thedash and inclosing a portion of the propelling mechanism of the vehicle,and a radiating-coil arranged to form the outer wall of the casing,substantially as described.

7. In a inotorvehicle, a vehicle-body, a bodily-removable casing forminga dash and inclosing a portion of the propelling mechanism of thevehicle, and a radiating-coil arranged in and forming one side of thecasing, substantially as described.

8. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a vehicle-body, and a motorprojecting above 1 the floor of said body, of a casing formingthe dashof the vehicle-body and inclosing the projecting portion of the motor,an opening in the front of said casing, and a radiatingcoil in saidopening, substantially as described.

9. In a motor-vehicle, a vehicle-body, a running-gear frame, a motorborne upon said frame and projecting through the floor of saidvehicle-body, a removable casing carried upon the bodyand inclosing thatportion of the motor which projects through the floor of thevehicle-body, and a cooling-coil arranged in advance of the engine andforming one wall of the casing, substantially as described.

10. In a motor-vehicle, a veliiole-body, a motor projecting above thefioor of said body, a cooling-coil, secured to the vehicle-body andshielding the projecting portion of the motor on one side, and aremovable casing cooperating with said coil to entirely inclose theprojecting portion of the motor, substantially as described.

11. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a vehicle-body and a motorprojecting through the floor of said vehicle-body, of a combined dashand easing inclosing the projecting portion of the motor andprovidedwith openings to permit access to the interior of said casingand allow free circulationof air therein, and a radiating-coil connectedwith the motor arranged in one of said openings, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a running-gear framecomprising axles, converging intermediate members unyieldingly supportedupon the rear axle, a spring upon the front axle, and a pivotalconnection between said spring and intermediate members arranged in thevertical plane of the front axle, of a motor supported upon said frameadjacent to the front axle, substantially as described.

13. In a motor-vehicle, a running-gear frame having its side membersconverging toward the front axle and terminating in a yoke, a motorarranged between said side members adjacent to the yoke, a trussed frontaxle comprising an upper chord and a lower chord, struts arrangedbetween said chords, a spring arranged centrally of the axle and securedto said struts, said yoke being pivoted to the center of the spring,substantially as described.

14. In a motor-vehicle, the combination ofa running-gear framesubstantially triangular in form and having its side members pivoted toacentrally-arranged spring supported by the front axle, a vehicle-bodysupported by the frame, a motor supported between the side members ofsaid frame adjacent to the pivotal connection between the side membersand front axle and projecting above the floor of the vehicle-body, aremovable casing forming the dash of the vehicle-body and inclosing theprojecting portion of the motor, and

means in the casing permitting access to the interior thereof and freecirculation of air around the motor, substantially as described.

15. In a motor-vehicle, a running-gear frame, comprising convergingintermediate members unyieldingly supported on the rear axle, a springborne upon the front axle, a yoke intermediate of the converging membersand spring, and a motor mounted upon said converging members,substantially as de-

